no-see-ums
Tiny biting gnats
No-see-ums are tiny biting flies, so small they're nearly invisible—hence the name.
Also called biting midges or sand flies, they swarm near water and deliver bites disproportionately painful for their size.
The no-see-ums were brutal at dusk.
The plural form is standard; the singular no-see-um is rare.
Minuscule swarming flies
- sandfliesBiting coastal insects
- punkiesTiny biting midges
- midgesMinuscule flying insects
- swarmMass of moving insects
tiny · invisible · pest · flying · wings · larvae · breeding · blood-feeding
Of the shoreline
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- humidContaining much moisture
- beachSandy waterside margin
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
salt marsh · standing water · vegetation · sandy · subtropical · Caribbean · Florida · Scotland
Causes strong aversion
- DEETInsect-repelling chemical compound
- picaridinInsect repellent compound
- fine meshTightly woven filtering material
- screeningEvaluative selection process
netting · long sleeves · permethrin · citronella · bug spray · head net · enclosed · barrier
Urge to scratch
- weltRaised skin injury
- bumpSlight collision or protrusion
- allergic reactionImmune system's hostile response
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
redness · irritation · scratching · rash · skin · painful · cluster · antihistamine
gnats
Minuscule swarming flies
swarm · tiny · invisible · pest · flying · wings · larvae · breeding · blood-feeding · female
coastal
Of the shoreline
swamp · salt marsh · standing water · vegetation · sandy · subtropical · Caribbean · Florida · Scotland · lakeside
repellent
Causes strong aversion
- DEETInsect-repelling chemical compound
- picaridinInsect repellent compound
- fine meshTightly woven filtering material
screening · netting · long sleeves · permethrin · citronella · bug spray · head net · enclosed · barrier · window screen
itch
Urge to scratch
- weltRaised skin injury
- bumpSlight collision or protrusion
- allergic reactionImmune system's hostile response
swelling · redness · irritation · scratching · rash · skin · painful · cluster · antihistamine · calamine
no-see-umshorseflies
Large biting flies
deer flies · tsetse flies · mosquitoes · stable flies · black flies
no-see-umswasps
Flying insects with stingers
hornets · yellowjackets · bumblebees · cicadas · locusts